Chisholm graduate wins School based Trainee of the year at VTA

We are proud to announce that Chisholm Institute of TAFE graduate, Alicia Farr was named the winner of two awards at the 2024 Victorian Training Awards (VTA); while former Chisholm CEO, Virginia Simmons was honoured with a lifetime achievement award.

Alicia won both the School-based Trainee of the Year Award and the People’s Choice Award (in the same category) for taking the plunge into teaching young children water safety techniques.

A lifeguard and swim teacher at Bayfit Leisure Centre in Altona, Alicia is currently studying her VCE Vocational Major, which combines a Certificate III in Aquatics and Community Recreation as part of her traineeship through Leisure Employment Australia, with studying Year 12 at Mount St Joseph’s College in Altona.

Alicia will now go on to compete in the 2024 Australian Training Awards, to be held in Canberra on Friday, 6 December.

Chisholm Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Varty, said he was delighted for Alicia; that she was given the highest recognition in Victoria's TAFE sector for her dedication to learning and helping others.

“I want to congratulate Alicia and recognise the Chisholm educators who helped her to achieve this goal. Having your accomplishments recognised with a Victorian Training Award is a significant honour.”

“I would also like to congratulate Bonnie Inkster on being named as a finalist in the Apprentice of the Year category. Breaking down barriers, Bonnie completed her Certificate III in Engineering Fabrication Trade at Chisholm and is now thriving as a welder for Walkinshaw Andretti United Motor Racing team,” said Mr Varty.

Additionally, former Chisholm CEO, Virginia Simmons, AO, was presented with the prestigious Lynne Kosky Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement, honouring her long and productive career in TAFE leadership. The first woman to become director of a TAFE, Virginia served as CEO of Chisholm from 2001 until she retired in 2010.

During her career at Chisholm, she initiated the establishment of a youth training course through the Berwick Technical Education Centre for young people aged under 20 who had not completed Year 12 or an equivalent qualification, a model now replicated in other youth centres.

Under Virginia's leadership, in 2006 the Caroline Chisholm Education Foundation was created, providing educational grants to students from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, to undertake TAFE training.